STS-131 EVA-1 completed – No FI required for Discovery’s clean TPS

April 8, 2010 by Chris Gebhardt

Flight Day 5 (FD-5) for STS-131 has seen the completion of the first of three scheduled EVAs (Spacewalks) of the mission. Astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Clay Anderson performed all of the EVA tasks, placing them in a good stance for the remaining two EVAs for this flight. Meanwhile, the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) have cleared Discovery’s TPS (Thermal Protection System) from any requirement of a Focused Inspection.

EVA -1 Preview:

The main focus for the Discovery/ISS crew today will be the execution of the first EVA for the STS-131/19A flight as well as the continuation of internal supply transfers to and from Discovery’s middeck and the MPLM Leonardo.

Waking up at 8:51 p.m. EDT (April 8), Discovery and the ISS crew got right to work with final preparations for Flight Day 5’s spacewalk.

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First up was the repressurization of the Quest Airlock from its overnight pressurization (10.2 psi) for EV crewmember campout operations to nominal Earth sea-level for a much-needed hygiene break for Rick Mastracchio and Clay Anderson.

Following that short break, Mastracchio and Anderson re-entered the Quest Airlock and the airlock was once again depressurized to 10.2 psi.

MPLM transfers are currently scheduled to pick up at 11:11 p.m. EDT (April 8th) while Rick and Clay are donning their respective EMUs (Extra-vehicular Mobility Units – spacesuits).

Final spacesuit purges are set to begin just after mid-night (12:06 a.m. EDT) April 9, followed by Spacesuit prebreathe activities at 12:21 a.m. EDT.

Per the timeline (which EV crews on numerous recent missions have worked well ahead of), complete Airlock depressurization that began at 1:11 a.m. EDT with Rick and Clay taking their spacesuits to battery power at 1:31 a.m. – officially beginning the EVA.

First up on the EVA-1 timeline was the retrieval of the FBG by Rick Mastracchio while Clay Anderson released the currently-attached-to-the-S1-truss ATA’s (Ammonia Tank Assembly’s) Fluid Quick Disconnect.

Next, the two astronauts transversed into Discovery’s Payload Bay (Rick first followed by Clay 30-minutes later) and performed a series of release and handoff preparations for the new ATA that rode uphill on Discovery.

The new ATA was released from its payload carrier and handed off to the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System – robot arm).

Following this handoff, Rick Mastracchio translated to the JAXA Kibo module’s exposure facility and retrieve the JEM Seed experiment while Clay remained in Discovery’s Payload Bay performing cleanup duties following the ATA release and handoff.

Next, Rick and Clay retrieved and installed the ABG before moving to the S0 truss of the ISS to Remove and Replace a Rate Gyro Assembly. Due to a clearance issue, Rick had to remove the near-by TERA, in order to free the RGA.

After that, Clay was to translate out to the P6 truss – joined one hour later by Rick – to perform the final scheduled task of the EVA: “P6 battery preps.” However, that was deleted and replaced with a task for Clay to work on several P clamps.

Following the completion of tasks, Rick and Clay performed EVA-1 cleanup activities before ingressing the Quest Airlock about 6.5hours after the start of the EVA.

The crew will then spend the remainder of the Flight Day performing Post-EVA servicing operations, MPLM transfers, and preparing for a much deserved sleep period.

In all, the DAT (Damage Assessment Team) has been able to clear several areas of Discovery TPS for reentry already – despite limited downlink capability with the vehicle prior to docking with the ISS Wednesday morning.

The cleared TPS areas include the Starboard T0 umbilical plates and surrounding TPS, the Port and Starboard OMS (Orbital Maneuvering System) Pod “black tile regions,” all upper and lower LESS Carrier Panel locations, and the lower surfaces of Discovery.

Furthermore, all regions of Discovery’s TPS that would be inaccessible for a Focused Inspection with the MPLM Leonardo berthed to the ISS have been cleared of the need for a Focused Inspection.

Areas still requiring DAT review include the Port and Starboard Forward Fuselage, the Port T0 umbilical plate and surround TPS, the remaining OMS Pod regions (white TPS tiles and TPS blankets), the “Leading Edge of the VERT,” and the ET umbilical doors for assurance of proper door closure and sealing for reentry.

Overall, there are only three (3) areas of Discovery’s TPS currently under investigation by the DAT: the Rudder Speed Brake, the Forward Reaction Control System pod, and one tile adjacent to an ET umbilical door.

Based on ascent imagery assets, a portion of one TPS tile on the trailing edge of the LH RSB was seen breaking away and harmlessly falling aft of the vehicle.

On orbit imagery of Discovery’s RSB during the R-bar Pitch Maneuver (RPM), performed about one hour prior to docking with the ISS, confirmed what is believed to be only a partial tile loss and charring on the AFT edge of nearby vehicle structure.

“Visible charring along the AFT edge and visible signs of SIP and densification layer on sidewall,” notes the initial summary analysis.

While initial RPM photography captured by crewmembers onboard the ISS confirmed the apparent partial tile loss in the area, additional photographs that will yield more information on the current state of this area of Discovery had not yet been reviewed/analyzed at the time of the FD-3 DAT summary publication.

Nonetheless, “Damage is located on the trailing edge of the LH Upper Rudder Speed Brake Panel Assembly,” notes the summary.

This trailing edge wedge is 9-inches wide with a variable depth along the XT axes. Facesheet thickness in the area is 0.012-inches.

TPS tiles in this area extend ~1.9-inches “over the trailing edge wedge [and] cover approximately half of full depth of honeycomb STR,” notes the summary presentation.

The tile in question was 0.68-inches thick at centroid (the point in a system of bodies or an extended body at which the mass of the system may be considered to be concentrated and at which external forces may be considered to be applied).

The tile was originally installed onto Discovery’s RSB in November 1982.

Currently, ascent/descent Aeroheating environments have been provided to the DAT and thermal model development is in work.

Stress and structural assessments will be performed after the thermal assessments are complete. Surround structural margins and adjacent TPS impacts are still being worked at this time.

The second TPS damage location is on the FRCS (Forward Reaction Control System) pod.